Paris (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron met Friday morning a new defense council devoted to the coronavirus crisis, on the fourth day of a confinement that the authorities consider insufficiently respected and which is likely to extend beyond the fifteen days initially planned.

With Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and the main ministers concerned, the president should notably take stock of the implementation of the traffic restriction measures he announced on Monday.

The confinement imposed in France in an attempt to slow the galloping epidemic of coronavirus, still largely transgressed, should "very probably" be extended beyond the initial two weeks, in the opinion of the health authorities.

It will take "between two and four weeks" to observe the effects on the dynamics of the epidemic, said the director general of the public health agency France, Geneviève Chêne.

But the French seem to have a hard time realizing reality. On a visit Thursday at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, Emmanuel Macron regretted that they take the instructions "lightly" and continue to hang out, enjoying the good weather.

One hundred thousand members of the security forces were deployed, imposing a fixed fine of 135 euros in the event of "violation of the prohibitions on moving outside one's home".

- "Fast and intense" -

"The more we will be mobilized, the faster we will break the epidemic curve, it is a collective fight" insisted Thursday Prof Salomon, director general of Health (DGS), announcing 372 deaths recorded since the beginning of the epidemic ( 108 more in 24 hours) and 4,761 hospitalizations.

Since Wednesday evening, 91 heavy cases have joined the intensive care unit, bringing their total to 1,122. "The cases of contamination double every four days," warned the DGS.

In a statement to the head of state, the Intersyndicale nationale des internees called on the authorities to "stop half-measures and equivocal speeches" and called for "total and absolute containment of the entire population". Otherwise, "we will have to make choices," they warn.

The prefects raised their voices on Thursday and closed the beaches of the entire Mediterranean arc, Corsica and many departments of the Atlantic coast. Those of Yvelines, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise have prohibited parks, public gardens, forests and walks by the water, the first denouncing the "irresponsible behavior" of certain Ile-de-France residents.

The restrictions weigh heavily in the prisons, where the visits were suspended: "More parlor, more projection, it means more narcotics. It will heat up in detention if there is no shit", predicts Tariq , 31, joined by AFP in a remand center in the Paris region.

- "Logistical difficulties" -

Now 157 referral establishments receive coronavirus patients.

In the Mulhouse region, one of the major foci of the virus in France, "the deployment of a military hospital is being set up and will be able to accommodate heavy patients in the next few days", assured Professor Salomon.

The government has recognized "logistical difficulties" in the supply of masks, allocated "as a priority to caregivers", who are nonetheless alarmed by their destitution.

In addition to the destocking of 5 million surgical masks from the Armed Forces, 25 million masks are being delivered to pharmacies and healthcare establishments.

These equipment are "reserved for health professionals" reminded Thursday the DGS.

However, many professions in contact with the public also demand it, such as the police, delivery people, garbage collectors or building professionals.

- "Emergency state" -

Before dawn Friday, the Senate, in a select committee, voted at first reading the bill allowing the establishment of a state of health emergency, accompanied by measures to support the economy.

A few hours earlier, the National Assembly had unanimously voted the amending finance bill intended to deal with the consequences of the epidemic. The text anticipates a heavy impact of the coronavirus on the economy, with a decline of 1% of GDP in 2020 and a public deficit of 3.9%.

The two texts must now shuttle between the two chambers, with the aim of final adoption before the end of the week.

The government decided in extremis to postpone the meetings of municipal councils elected in the first round, scheduled from Friday to Sunday to appoint mayors. They appeared "aberrant" in these circumstances.

President Macron urged companies to show "civic responsibility" and called on employees to continue their activity "in compliance with health safety rules". The Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud reminded that the continuation of the economic activity was necessary "so that the nation can continue to function".

To facilitate restocking, an exceptional authorization to travel on Sunday will be granted to all heavy goods vehicles, the Ministry of Ecological Transition announced on Thursday.

© 2020 AFP